#INTELLIGENCE: Fatal Attraction

March 31, 2012: The anti-piracy patrol off Somalia has found a new source of intelligence: the thousands of pirates who now have Internet access and use it enthusiastically. Although some are warned against discussing their work on their new smart phones (or less expensive "feature phones"), these guys are only dimly aware of how useful small bits of information on their operations can be. Western intelligence agencies constantly monitor pirates' activity on social networking sites and the Internet in general. Intel agencies are also able to eavesdrop on cell phone traffic, texting, and email. All this information provides a better picture of pirate plans and activities than anyone in the pirate community has. It's one reason the pirates are increasingly thwarted by anti-piracy patrol warships and aircraft. Some of the pirate leaders are aware of this weakness but have bee...